By: Alyssa Schmidt

~The Bargain that ended the Battle~

Treaty of Paris-1783

After six long years of fighting an impossible revolution against a country that was bigger, richer, and some thought that were essentially stronger and better the colonist finally ended it. After six years of death, blood, and depression the Americans, with the aid of their allies, ended it all with the surrender of General Cornwallis who surrendered at the Battle of Yorktown and then it was time for for the negotiations. Though little did the Americans know that another two years would pass before the American Revolution would actually be concluded. It would not be truly over till September 3, 1783.

Even though the French had aided us in the defeat against the British and at the time we had decided to make a treaty with the french, at the time when it was time to get down to business the Americans realized that French had been more concerned with France and Spain then America itself. So the French were not made in any part of the deal.

(left to right: John Jay, John Adams, and Benjamin Franklin)

The thirteen colonies were in the good hands of Benjamin Franklin, John Adams and John Jay at the peace talks. The treaty was signed at the Hotel de York, which included those three men mentioned before and David Hartley, a member of the British parliament representing King George III.

The Treaty of Paris really stressed seven crucile points:

1. American freedom would be recognized- The fact that America was now free. We did not have to answer to a british monarch any longer. We were free to do what we wanted and when we wanted to do something without having to answer to Great Britain and its parliament.
2. The boundaries of the thirteen colonies- In the treaty the boundaries consisted of the Mississippi River on the west, Florida on the south; Canada, the Great Lakes, and the St. Lawrence River to the north, and of course the Atlantic Ocean to the east of the colonies. This created problems in the later expansion of the U.S.
3. Fishing ranges- This meaning that Americans could fish off coasts of Canada and not be fined or gotten into trouble for it.
   
4. Use of Mississippi river- This allowed both countries of America and Canada to use the river for whatever purpose and not get into a dispute about who had the right to use the river or not.
   
5. Loyalist returned their dignity- Loyalists would have any of their property or possessions given back to them without judgement or problems.
   
6. American paying any debts- This saying that any colonist who has an outstanding debt to a britsih subject must pay it off
7. Movement of Britsh soliders- In the treaty this said that Great britain would remove all british troops still locateed in the colonies. The problem with this argument was that the Americans never specified when the British troops would have to vacate by.
   

Now when you think about writng all those arguments and the treaty you think to yourself, wow that took two years, it really should of taken them maybe a month or two. The reason behind the extended period of time was becasue the British were have said to "drag their feet'. Meaning they did not want to negoiate. They hated the thought of themsleves loosing. So they took their time on everything. They never made clear cut decisions and just made the process long and drawn out.

After the long drawn out two years the reaty was finally signed on September 3, 1783. As you know the treaty did end the war and revolve some issues at the time with Britain. But many of them just arose in some other form or another. This would not be the only time in the United State's history where that would happen.

QUESTIONS

1. When was the Treaty of Paris signed?
2. Who were the three men from the American side?
3. Why did it take two years to finally sign and come to an agreement?

The unfinished paintingof the signing of the Treaty of Paris, the British would refuse to sit so that the artist could paint them in.


The signature page of the Treaty of Paris.